Are you looking for anime recommendations? Whether you are a newbie or are already a fan, here’s a list of eight amazing anime series just for you. Anime has increasingly gained popularity worldwide over the last few decades, leading to production of more amazing anime content and continual increase in their fanbase. The best anime belong to the ‘Action’ and ‘Adventure’ genres, but there’s no shortage of them in other genres. Nevertheless, in this list, the animes have been narrowed down to belong from this genre!

1. Naruto (2002-2017)

This is the one series I would recommend to anyone and everyone. Naruto follows the story of a young boy, Naruto, who is an orphan, bullied by his peers, and awful at ninjutsu, the technique used by ninjas in the series. What follows is his endless determination and struggle to gain recognition from the villagers, and to become the Hokage, leader of the Leaf Village. Naruto is a long but beautiful story, having so many plots and twists, but at the same time, showing the value of hope, courage, and relationships in life. There are two main parts: Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. A sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, started airing from 2017.

2. Death Note (2006-2007)

One of the anime series that is widely known worldwide, Death Note follows Light Yagami, an intelligent teenage boy who discovers the Death Note, a supernatural notebook that causes the death of anyone whose name he writes in the book. Numerous killings happen over the next days and the media names the new killer as ‘Kira.’ Death Note is an anime where you can see how criminal masterminds work and just how equally canny law workers catch them.

3. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (2006-2008)

Lelouch Lamperouge is a Britannian student, an outcast prince living with his sister, Nunnaly, in Japan. The Holy Empire of Britannia has managed to force its control onto Japan, renaming it Area 11. When Lelouch is caught up in a fight between the Area 11 rebels and the armed forces of Britannia, he narrowly escapes because of the appearance of a mysterious woman C.C. who gives him the power of Geass. With the ocular power that he can use to control anyone, Lelouch embarks on a mission to destroy the Brittanian Empire and appears in public as the masked vigilante, Zero. Code Geass is another anime where you see how intelligence and tactics win the war.

4. Tokyo Ghoul (2014-2018)

Kaneki is a college student who becomes half ghoul after a deadly encounter with his date, Rize Kamishiro, who reveals herself a ghoul. He now has to learn to deal with eating flesh to meet his ghoul impulses and fit in society as half-human, half-ghoul. Luckily, he meets the ghouls that run Anteiku, a coffee shop, who help him to adjust to his new reality and make sure he keeps his identity secret. In this 12-episode series, we see Kaneki struggle to integrate two of his very different personalities into one and try to survive.

5. Bleach (2004-2012)

In Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki, born with the ability to see ghosts, sees Rukia Kuchiki, the Soul Reaper, who fights Hollows and sends ghosts to the afterlife. In a battle with a powerful Hollow, Rukia is wounded and temporarily passes her abilities to Ichigo, a high school student. Ichigo reluctantly accepts the role of the Soul Reaper, and with the help of three spiritually aware classmates, manages to fight the Hollows that plague the world.

6. Psycho-Pass (2012-2019)

Psycho-Pass is an anime set in 22^nd century dystopian Japan, where the government uses the Sibyl System, psychometric scanners that actively measure the minds of the country’s citizens. Latent criminals, called Enforcers, aid the Crime Investigation department in doing their duty. Akane Tsunemori is a rookie inspector, going out in the field for the first time, wanting to be part of justice. But as she works with enforcers, she realises that Japan’s justice system may not be what it seems to be, and questions what type of justice enforcement is she really part of.

7. Attack on Titan (2013-)

In the fictional world of Attack on Titan, humans live in cities that are surrounded by huge walls to protect them from monstrous giants, the Titans. However, the protection becomes ineffective as a titan breaches the wall of one such town, killing many. Eren Yeager, his friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert suffer long-lasting changes in their lives because of the attack. The anime series shows their adventures as a part of the Scout Regiment, a soldier group that fight the titans. There are four seasons in the series, with three released and the final one scheduled to be released by fall of 2020.

8. Blue Exorcist (2011-2017)

In Blue Exorcist, there are two worlds, Assiah, which is occupied by humans, and Gehenna, which is occupied by demons. There is no way to travel between the two dimensions but by possession of humans by demons. The story follows Rin Okumura, a teenager whose life is rocked when he gets to know that he is in fact the son of the ruler of Gehenna, Satan, who wants his son to return to the demon realm so they can conquer Assiah together. However, he does not want to be a part of his father’s plans and along with his twin brother, trains to become an exorcist, so he can protect Assiah from Gehenna.

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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Anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of anime has probably heard of the ill-fated Netflix Death Note adaptation or the upcoming Detective Pikachu movie. The popular opinion seems to be that live-action adaptations are generally a bad idea. However, I am going to play devil’s advocate today and tell you why they are actually worth a watch by talking about two or three of the better live-action adaptations.

1. They give fans more material to dig up and watch

For me, I came into the Death Note fandom about 12 years late. I very much enjoyed bingeing the anime, reading the manga, and digging up the countless adaptations, including the three Japanese movies, the Japanese TV drama, and the notorious Netflix movie. The adaptations allow fans to keep enjoying their favourite characters long after the original show/manga series is over.

2. Some movie studios stay true to the source material

There are live-action adaptations that are actually genuinely good movies in their own right. Sure, the adaptation of Dragon Ball Z, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the Netflix Death Note were terrible and completely desecrated the source material, but there are some note-worthy adaptations. For example, the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation provided a genuinely interesting take on the series, and the three Japanese Death Note movies stayed fairly true to the manga while providing an almost better alternate ending. And, from what I have heard, the live-action adaptation of Bleach actually hit the mark in many ways.

3. They allow for reinterpretation of characters

The characters are often what draws us into the originals as we come to love them and become genuinely invested in their stories. There are some adaptations that completely reimagine your favourite characters, and you find that they are actually as good, or better, than the originals.

One example of this comes in the TV drama adaptation of Death Note. Fan-favourite L is almost unrecognisable when compared to the original anime, but they did not do the character injustice. The original L comes across as a having a languid and blunt manner, being incredibly eccentric, and having a rather dry sense of humour that only presents itself in rare moments, like his quip to Misa about a world without Light being “dark.”

In contrast, the L from the TV drama’s eccentricity is downplayed significantly. He is much more direct in his offensive measures, going so far as to individually call all of his suspects and to try to get them to confess. This version is also mischievous and frequently plays pranks on other characters; the most notable example being when L is directing a disguised Light through the Yotsuba headquarters and intentionally turns him down a hallway that is actually a wall. Another aspect that differs from the anime is that L possesses a mean, verging on sadistic, streak that makes you question his morality even more than you did originally. All these traits seem like they would work against the character, but actually make him even more interesting.

4. Sometimes characters you hated in the original will actually be likeable in the adaptations or omitted entirely

One character who was omitted from the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation was the flamboyant Alex Louis Armstrong. Some fans like this character, but others–myself included–find him annoying and unnecessary. His antics in the anime only add some rather weird and uncomfortable attempts at humour that usually fail dramatically. Without his unnecessary strip-teasing, viewers are more able to focus on the captivating story.

5. The adaptations sometimes provide better endings than the source material

Ending a series is incredibly hard for writers and some series hit the mark better than others. Naturally, I must cite the Japanese Death Note movies for an example once again. Death Note’s conclusion in the anime disappointed many fans for its rushed inclusion of L’s successors and the badly-explained switching of the Death Notes. Many of the fans simply stopped watching the series after L’s death because the series lost steam without him.

In contrast to this, the second Japanese movie actually provided a neat and clean ending for the series, while still achieving the same, if not more, emotional affect. This version implements a rule in the death note that was mentioned in the manga but never utilised. L wrote his own name in the death note before Rem did and set his own death for 23 days later, effectively nullifying her attempt to kill him. He and the task force are then able to catch Light and Misa red-handed. It is a clever twist that works more effectively than the clunky anime ending.

6. Annoying anime tropes are often omitted from the adaptations

There are a lot of tropes in anime, and most of them get old fast. A couple such tropes that are common in the anime versions of Fullmetal Alchemist are the overreaction trope and the randomly stripping trope (looking at you, Armstrong). The randomly stripping trope is not present in the adaptation due to the fact that Armstrong is omitted entirely. The overreaction trope is significantly toned down from the anime; there is only so much overreaction possible when you are dealing with human muscles instead of animated ones.

7. You get to see what your favourite characters would look like if they were real

Much like when a novel gets adapted into a movie, live-action adaptations of anime give us an even better picture of our favourite characters (sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse). Animation often looks very unrealistic, so seeing your favourite characters in live-action makes them that much more tangible.

8. It’s not weird to have a crush on your favourite character in adaptations

It is not uncommon for fans to have crushes on their favourite fictional characters; the terms “fangirl” and “fanboy” exist for a reason. It can feel a little weird to have a crush on your favourite animated character. Live-action makes it feel a lot more natural because you have a human actor to pin your attraction on. For example, people may think it’s weird if you have a crush on L, but if you say you have a crush on Kenichi Matsuyama (the actor who portrayed him in the Japanese movies), it is considered socially acceptable.

9. Adaptations provide an increased opportunity for diversity

Increased diversity is almost always a good thing; it gives minority actors more roles and gives minority kids someone like them in popular media. A couple of examples of this in adaptations are Lakeith Stanfield playing L in the Netflix Death Note movie and Ryôsuke Yamada playing the traditionally Caucasian Edward Elric in the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation. In these cases, the changes are harmless and do not affect the story in any significant way. After all, the Fullmetal Alchemist adaptation was made in Japan, so it makes sense to hire Japanese actors. As for L, his race is not particularly important to the story, so having him played by an African-American adds diversity without negatively affecting his character any more than the movie script did.

10. Adaptations open anime up to a wider audience

There are many excuses the average viewer gives for not watching anime; they misunderstand it or dislike animated TV shows and movies. For example, my entire family cannot stand anime. However, I convinced them to watch the Japanese Death Note movies with me, and they enjoyed them.

Also, some people want to try anime, but they do not have the time to watch an 800 episode TV series that has been going on since the 90s. A two-hour movie can be a much better jumping off point for new fans, and it can encourage them to dive in and explore the originals.

Are adaptations worth it?

Yes, movie studios will always make bad movies from fandom shows to make a profit. But if the studio really tried to make a movie worth watching, it cannot hurt to give them a chance. Good anime adaptations do exist. Even if you dislike the examples I chose to discuss, I guarantee there is at least one anime adaptation out there that you will enjoy!

What do you think? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Reasons Why Live-Action Anime Adaptations Aren’t Always Bad appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Anime is one of those entertainment mediums that people seem to get a bit apprehensive about. We didn’t have a problem watching Dragon Ball Z or Sailor Moon before school in our younger years, and in fact, you probably look back on those memories with undeniable fondness. However, the older people get, the more likely they are to shunt anime off to the side and label it as a no-go. But in an effort to bring back the anime love, I’ve compiled a list of 10 reasons that everybody should be watching anime!

1. It’s rarely cancelled

There’s nothing worse than letting yourself get wholly invested in a TV series only to have the rug pulled out from under you when the network decides to cancel it *cough* Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency *cough*, but this rarely happens with anime. Either the show ends when the story does (Fullmetal Alchemist) or it keeps going in an attempt to catch up with the manga (One Piece). And if it does happen to get cancelled, you can always keep going with the manga.

2. The characters are unique and interesting

Anime boasts such vibrancy and diversity in its characters. People in anime have dynamic personalities, they’re whole people (even when they aren’t human); they have dreams and goals, and beyond that, there’s just so much variance in what they are. Ghosts, detectives, ghouls, pirates, demons, high school students, office workers… the list goes on, and there’s no limit to what a character might be, or who they might be.

3. Characters have flaws and die

Sort of the flip side of number 2 is that characters in anime are not spared by plot armour. Even a character that is absolutely pivotal to the plotline is not immune to death, or flaws. Perfect characters don’t exist in anime, and if they do exist, it’s usually because it’s being set up to prove a plot point.

4. Anime is relatable

Not the storylines specifically, but just because something is animated, doesn’t mean it can be realistic or relatable. Most animes will harbour serious moral philosophies from real-life situations. And things like decision-making, the ability to overcoming loss, and the importance of familial relationships form the corner-stone of almost any anime you watch.

5. There are ENDLESS possibilities

What’s the most random story you can think of? There’s probably an anime for that. School of compulsive gamblers? Check. Universe where humans co-exist with any number of mythical creatures? Check. Journeys of a guy who eats a magical fruit and is trying to become the Pirate King? Check. There are no limitations on what worlds or characters exist, it’s truly astounding.

6. It teaches you about Japanese culture

This one’s a bit subtler, but each anime is infused with information about Japanese culture; from commonly used phrases and colloquialisms, popular traditions, holidays and myths and folk law- there’s a little something from a magnificent culture blended into each story.

7. Strong female characters

There’s a bit of a misconception about the way anime portrays women, but I’m here to tell you that physicality aside, women in anime are not there as male fan service. They are strong, dynamic characters—no damsels in distress here (well, mostly)! Women in anime go toe-to-toe with males in action sequences and are just as likely to kick-ass and take names as any of the guys.

8. Amazing action sequences

And not just fight scenes either! Anime is all about the action—the way it’s written lends itself to action weaving itself into the plot of any story line. Even filler episodes tend to have something interesting going on. Fight scenes in particular can be spectacular, because the use of animation as a medium means that they’re limitless in a way you can’t achieve with live action.

9. It’s super easy to binge!

You know that feeling when you get super into a TV show and so you start from the beginning and binge watch through a couple of seasons… but then you catch up? And you’re left wondering what to do with your life while you wait for the next season? Depending on what anime you pick, you’ve got a while to go before you run out of episodes—with long running shows like Naruto and One Piece boasting over 700 episodes each.

10. It’s entertaining!

Perhaps the most basic of all the reasons on my list, but arguably the most important, anime is entertaining as heck! It’s all about fast paced, interesting and thought-provoking storylines kept moving by kick-ass action scenes and enough drama to keep anyone interested!

Well, there you go. Hopefully something on this list has convinced you to give anime another go! If you’re stuck for ideas on where to start, check out a few of our recommendations!

Why do you love anime? Tell us in the comments below!

The post 10 Reasons You Should Be Watching Anime (If You Aren’t Already) appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Most of us remember waking up early before school or on the weekends to watch our favourite cartoons. Tearing the covers off your bed and making a nest on the couch so that you could watch Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, or Naruto in complete comfort. Anime as an entertainment medium has done a lot of growing up since the 90’s and is chock full of awesome action, laugh out loud moments, and stories that make you think about your place in the world. Maybe it’s worth giving it another chance?

Read on to discover seven anime series that you’ll quickly be hooked on and tell us in the comments below if you know of any others you would add!

1. Nichijou

Have you ever had an idea with your best friend that is so ridiculous that you can’t stop laughing? That is more or less what it feels like to watch this show. Nichijou is a slice of life comedy series that follows three girls through their “everyday lives”.  If you’ve ever fallen in love with a young nobleman who rides a goat, shot lasers out of your eyes because you had a fish land on your head, or bribed a policeman to not look at your personal diary, then this is the show for you.

2. One Punch Man

One Punch Man is the equivalent of Japanese Deadpool. The story follows an ordinary looking superhero called Saitama and after giving up his day job, he decides to become a hero for fun and gains god-like strength. His ability to destroy opponents with only a single punch is used to great comic effect as Saitama strives to find an equal sparring partner and his place in the world. Oh, and the show also has one of the best opening themes going around.

3. Sword Art Online

How do you cram sci-fi, fantasy, romance, action, and a decent story into 25 episodes? Simply set the story inside a virtual reality RPG that you can’t escape from. While the second half of the series polarised audiences, the first half is gripping, tightly written, and focuses on character development and relationships. The main character Kirito is likeable and Asuna is always up for adventure. The visuals are breathtaking and definitely worthy of owning on Blu-Ray. Be warned though, the story is an emotional rollercoaster. Keep a box of tissues handy!

4. Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Gurren Lagann is one of my all time favourite shows, let alone anime. It starts with the main character Simon digging tunnels for a living in an underground village when he stumbles across an artefact that will take him from the murky depths of the village up to the surface world and as far as different galaxies and stars. Gurren Lagann is a story that hits you hard from the beginning and only lets you catch your breath when it says that it’s time to breathe. Its animation style is quirky, playing with lots of motion blurring, highly saturated colours, and forced perspectives. It typifies the Mech-Robot genre of anime with a gradual power build and lovably flawed characters.

5. Cowboy Bebop

This is the granddaddy of modern anime. First released in Japan in 1998, Cowboy Bebop is one of the most awarded animated television shows around. Channelling a funky futuristic art style, it combines a serious crime noir story with incredible voice acting in both Japanese and English. This is a great place to start your adventure into anime due to its self-contained story, dry wit, and memorable characters.

6. Death Note

Death Note was what got me into anime. It is a dark, serious psychological thriller that will leave you wanting more. Light Yagami is an incredibly bright student with his future laid out before him, but everything changes when he picks up a notebook dropped by a Shinigami (God of Death). As he gets caught up in the immense power gifted to him, the world’s greatest and most mysterious detective begins the hunt for him. What ensues is a pulse pounding tale of cat and mouse and more twists than an M. Night Shyamalan film. Brace yourself to have your morals questioned.

7. My Hero Academia

This has been the biggest show in anime since its release in April 2016. The protagonist, Izuku Midoriya, is one of the few people in the world who hasn’t developed a genetic power.  Despite this, he still chases his dream of becoming the world’s best hero like his idol, All Might. That is until fate intervenes granting him a power and entrance to the premiere UA High School. Like X-Men, this series deals with how heroes are viewed in society and the ideas of belonging. With a huge cast of characters, all with their own unique abilities and personality traits, My Hero Academia will have you discussing your own dream powers with friends for hours.

Any other anime series you would add? Tell us in the comments below!

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Read on to discover what movies are being released this month and tell us in the comments below what you might go and see!

The Dark Tower

There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the world’s most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen. The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.

Starring Idris Elba (Luther), Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar), Katheryn Winnick (Vikings), Nicholas Hamilton (Captain Fantastic), Jackie Earle Haley (Preacher) and Abbey Lee (Mad Max: Fury Road).

Annabelle: Creation | Trailer

Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.

Starring Anthony LaPaglia (Without a Trace), Miranda Otto (Homeland), Stephanie Sigman (Spectre), Talitha Bateman (The 5th Wave), Lulu Wilson (Deliver Us from Evil), Philippa Anne Coulthard (After the Dark), Grace Fulton (Badland), Lou Lou Safran (The Choice), Samara Lee (The Last Witch Hunter) and Tayler Buck.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard | Trailer

The world’s top protection agent (Ryan Reynolds) is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world’s most notorious hitmen (Samuel L. Jackson). The relentless bodyguard and manipulative assassin have been on the opposite end of the bullet for years and are thrown together for a wildly outrageous 24 hours. During their raucous and hilarious adventure from England to the Hague, they encounter high-speed car chases, outlandish boat escapades and a merciless Eastern European dictator (Gary Oldman) who is out for blood.

Starring Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Samuel L. Jackson (The Avengers), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises), Elodie Yung (Netflix’s Daredevil) and Salma Hayek (Frida).

Logan Lucky

The Logans are a hardscrabble family from the hills of West Virginia, and their clan has been famous for its bad luck for nearly 90 years. But the conniving Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum) decides its time to turn the family’s luck around, and with a little help from his friends, the Redneck Robbers, he plans to steal $14 million from the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Starring Channing Tatum (Magic Mike), Adam Driver (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Daniel Craig (Skyfall), Riley Keough (Mad Max: Fury Road), Seth MacFarlane and Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them).

Death Note | Trailer

Based on the famous Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.

Starring Nat Wolff (Paper Towns), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man), Shea Whigham (The Wolf of Wall Street), Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta), Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers) and Paul Nakauchi (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End).

Detroit | Trailer

In the summer of 1967, rioting and civil unrest starts to tear apart the city of Detroit. Two days later, a report of gunshots prompts the Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police and the Michigan Army National Guard to search and seize an annex of the nearby Algiers Motel. Several policemen start to flout procedure by forcefully and viciously interrogating guests to get a confession. By the end of the night, three unarmed men are gunned down while several others are brutally beaten.

Starring John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Will Poulter (The Revenant), Anthony Mackie (Captain America: Civil War), John Krasinski (The Office), Samira Wiley (Orange Is The New Black), Hannah Murray (Game of Thrones) and Kaitlyn Dever (Last Man Standing).

The Glass Castle

Based on a memoir, four siblings must learn to take care of themselves as their responsibility-averse, free-spirit parents both inspire and inhibit them. When sober, the children’s brilliant and charismatic father captured their imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Meanwhile, their mother abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn’t want to take on the work of raising a family.

Starring Brie Larson (Room), Naomi Watts (Gypsy), Woody Harrelson (The Hunger Games), Max Greenfield (New Girl) and Sarah Snook (The Dressmaker).

Tulip Fever | Trailer

Set against the backdrop of the 17th-century Tulip Wars, a married noblewoman (Alicia Vikander) has an affair with an artist (Dane DeHaan) and switches identities with her maid to escape the wealthy merchant she married. She and her lover try to raise money together by investing what little they have in the high-stakes tulip market.

Starring Alicia Vikander (The Man From U.N.C.L.E), Dane DeHann (The Amazing Spider-Man 2), Cara Delevingne (Suicide Squad), Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Christoph Waltz (Spectre) and Judi Dench (Skyfall).

Kidnap | Trailer

A typical afternoon in the park turns into a nightmare for single mother Karla Dyson (played by Halle Berry) when kidnappers snatch her young son Frankie. With no cellphone and no time to wait for police, Dyson jumps into her car to follow the vehicle that holds Frankie. As the pursuit turns into a frantic, high-speed chase, Karla must risk everything and push herself to the limit to save her beloved child.

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